St. Cloud 's green trash bags aren't going away

Greg Voller collects recyclables along a south St. Cloud street Friday. Bins similar to those for recycling now are required for garbage at rental properties.
(Photo:
Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com
)Buy Photo

While St. Cloud rental properties must now have garbage carts, the green bag system isn't going anywhere any time soon for owner-occupied homes.

Rental properties started using garbage carts this spring to deal with trash in the neighborhoods. St. Cloud Public Services Director Pat Shea said there were some reports of renters using other property owners' trash bins or throwing garbage elsewhere instead of buying green bags.

The city uses a system where residents must dispose of garbage in green bags for city pickup. A 30-gallon green bag costs $2, plus residents pay a monthly pass-by fee. Last year the city put in a new system for recycling that uses recycling carts.

With the recent changes to the system, residents might wonder if the green bag system will also be replaced by carts. Residents can opt to have a garbage cart instead of using green bags, but Shea said there are no plans to get rid of the green bag system.

"The bag service is surprisingly very well received," he said. "And it promotes people to recycle."

Since people pay per bag, they think more about what they are throwing away and what can be recycled, he said. Some residents find they can get through a month with just two bags. Those who throw away little end up paying significantly less for garbage collection than if they had a cart, which costs $26.50 a month plus the pass-by fee.

Any change to the garbage system would require a change in ordinance, meaning the City Council would have to hold a public hearing.

Follow Kari Petrie on Twitter @karipetrie.

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Bins of recyclables line a south St. Cloud street Friday. Bins similar to those for recycling now are required for garbage at rental properties.
(Photo:
Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com
)